UPDATE 1-Sudan says Heglig oilfield repaired, pumping oil

HEGLIG, Sudan, May 2 (Reuters) - Sudan said on Wednesday theHeglig oilfield, scene of intense fighting with South Sudan lastmonth, has been repaired and has started pumping oil.

The two countries have been embroiled in weeks of fightingalong their 1,800 km (1,200 mile) border, threatening to tip theregion, which sits atop one of Africa's most significant oildeposits, into a full-blown conflict.

South Sudan's army, the SPLA, also said it killed 27Sudanese army soldiers in a clash in Unity state on Tuesday.

South Sudan seized the contested Heglig oilfield, which isvital to Sudan's economy because it produced almost half of thecountry's output of 115,000 bpd, sparking widespreadcondemnation. It later withdrew from the oilfield.

"This oilfield was producing 55,000 barrels per day,"Sudanese Petroleum Minister Awad Ahmed al-Jaz said at theoilfield, accompanied by oil engineers and military officers.

"Now as we said ... we plan to produce more than that,besides the production of other oilfields which will follow," hesaid, as he opened one of the oil valves.

Jaz said the oilfield had started pumping oil at 10 p.m.(1900 GMT) on Monday. He did not indicate how much Heglig wascurrently producing.

"We can say the oil has now reached the Khartoum refinery."

Sudan lost three-quarters of its output when South Sudanbecame independent in July last year.